Depth-indicating device



Filed Sept. 3, 1921 Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE W. KING, OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO KING-SEELEY CORPORA- 'JJION, OE ANN ARBOR. MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.-

DEPTH-INDIC'ATING DEVICE.

Application filed September 3, 1921. Serial No. 498,506.

The invention relates to depth indicating devices for liquids and has for one of its obj ects the provision of a construction in which air is introduced to displace a column of the liquid and the pressure of the displacing air is indicated. Another object is to provide means for drawingair into the feeding chamber separately of the liquid drawn thereinto. Further objects of the invention reside in the novel features of construction as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

-The figure is a sectional elevation of a depth indicating device embodying my invention.

While my invention has many uses it is particularly applicable to motor vehicles for measuring the depth of fuel in the fuel tanks.

1 is the gasoline tank to which my depth indicating device is applied in the present instance. This device comprises the superposed air chamber 2 and the feeding chamber 3 communicating with each other, the air tube 4 opening into the feeding chamber and extending above the level of the gasoline, the suction'tube 5 opening into the feeding chamber and extending to a suitable source of vacuum such as the vacuum tank 6 and the ressure tube 7 opening into the air cham er 2 and leading to the pressure gage 8 which is preferably U-shaped.

The superposed air chamber 2and feeding chamber 3 are separated from each other by the intermediate wall 9 which has the restricted opening 10 therein for placing the chambers in communication with each other and also has the opening 11 therein located beyond the lower or feeding chamber 3 for placing the air chamber in communication with the gasoline. The side wall of the feeding chamber 3 has the opening 12 therein for placing the feeding chamber in communication with the gasoline, this opening being below the central part of the projecting portion of the air chamber. The lower ends of the air tube 4 and suction tube 5 are fixedly I secured to the feeding chamber while the lower end of the pressure tube 7 is fixedly secured to the air chamber and the air tube preferably extends longitudinally of the pressure tube and secured thereto by suitable means such as the solder 13. The suction tube and pressure tube are fixedly secured to the cap plate 14 near their upper ends. and are detachably connected at their upper ends to the tubes leading to the vacuum tank and pressure gage respectively.

For the purpose of drawin air through the air tube 4 and into the feeding chamber 3 separate from the gasoline drawn into the feeding chamber through the opening 12 when the vacuum tank 6 is in operation the relatlve cross sectional areas of the air tube 4, openings 10 and 12, and suction tube 5 are such that both air and gasoline are drawn in dlrectly by suction. By varying the size of the opening 12,-any desired suction' in the chamber 3 may be obtained. The opening 10 is restricted so that any gasoline drawn through this opening from the upper or air chamber 2 is negligible, but this opening is suficiently large to permit of the upward passage of air trapped in the feeding chamber when the operation of the vacuum tank terminates.

By this arrangement, when air is drawn into chamber 3 during the operation of the Vacuum tank, a portion of the air passes out with the gasoline through the tube 5 and a portion remains trapped in the top of chamber 3. When the vacuum tank ceases to operate the entrapped air passes up through the opening 10 and displaces any gasoline which may have collected in the air chamber 3, surplus air escaping through the. opening 11. This process continues every time the vacuum tank operates, and the air chamber 2 is kept filled with air and practically free of gasoline. This condition is necessary to make the gage 8 at all times show the correct depth of gasoline.

To prevent any sediment or the like entering the openings 11 and 12 in the air and feeding chambers respectively, the bottom 15 of the feeding chamber has the portion 16 extended so that its edge terminates in substantially vertical alignment with the side wall of the projecting portion of the air chamber.

A screen 17 extends between the edge of this extended portion of the bottom and this portion of the side wall and forms with the exthis arrangement, all gasoline entering the air and-feeding chambers must pass through the screen, d g

In order tomore securely fasten the suction tube 5 the top 19 of the air chamber has the extended portion 20 above the projecting portion of thefeeding chamber. This extended portion has an aperture therein through which the suction tube extends. Solder 21 extending between the. suction tube and the extended portion of the'top, the side wall of theair chamber and the 1ntermediate wall will firmly secure the suction tube to'the chambers.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a depth indicating device for liquids,

- the combination with a pair of super-posed chambers laterally oifset from each other and separated from each other by an intermediate wall,'said intermediate wall having a re-'- stricted aplerture therethrough for placing said cham other and a second aperture therethrough and located beyond the lower chamber for placing the upper chamber in communication with the liquid, and the lower chamber having a restricted opening through its wall for placing the lower chamber in communication with a the liquid, of an air tube opening into the lower chamber at a point substantially below the top thereof and extending above the level of the liquid, a suction tube opening into the lower chamber at a point substantially below the top thereof and adapted to draw both air and liquid into the lower chamber, a pressure gage and means for placing said pressure gage in communication with the upper chamher.

2. In a depth indicating device for liquids,

the combination with a pair of super-posed chambers laterally oifset from each other, and separated from each other by an intermediate wall having a restricted opening therethrough for placing said chambers in communication with each other, the lower chamber having its bottom extended to terminate substantially in vertical alignment with the side wall of the projecting portion of the upper chamber, of a screen extending between the edge of the extended portion of said bottom and the side wall of the project'- ing portion of the upper chamber, said screen and extended portion of said bottom cooperair thereinto, a pressure gage and means for ers. in communication'with each placing said pressure gauge in communication with the upper chamber;

3. In a depth indicatin device for li uids, in combinatlon, a pair 0 superposed 0 ambers laterally ofiset from each other and separated by an'intermediate wall, said chambers being provided with means for placing said chambers in communication with each other and the upper chamber in communication with the liquid being measured includmg a restricted passageway in said intermediate wall beyond the lower chamber, a screen cooperating with said chambers for enclosing the space below the upper-chamber and lieide the lower chamber, the lower chamber having a restricted passageway for the li uid from the inclosed space to the lower cham er, means for conducting air into the lower chamber at a point substantially below the top thereof, a suction tube communicating with the lower chamber at a point substantially below the top thereof, a pressure gage, and means for placing said pressure gauge in communication with the upper chamber.

4. In a depth indicatingdevice for liquids, the combination with an air chamber having an opening therein below its upper end for placin the air chamber in communication with t el-iquid, of a second chamber below said air chamber and communicating there- I with and also with the liquid, means forming a passage for the liquid into said second chamber, means forming a passage for air into said secondchamber at a point substantially below the to thereof, said air passage forming means lea ing from a oint above the liquid and communicating wlth' the air above the liquid to said second chamber and communicating directly with. said second chamber, suction means communicating with said second chamber at a point substantially below the top thereof for drawing the liquid, and air into said second chamber, a pressure gauge, and means for placing said pressure gauge in communication with said air cham- 5. In a depth indicating device for liquids, the combination with upper and lower chame bers provided with restricted passageways for placing said chambers in communication with each other and' with the liquid being measured, a conduit for air extending from a point above the li uid to the lower chamber at a point substantially below the top thereof and communicating with the air above the liquid and the lower chamber, a suction pipe communicatin with the-lower chamber at a point substantially below the top thereof, a

screen through which the liquid passes into the upper and lower chambers, a pressure au e and means for lacin said ressureg o7 gauge in communication with the upper chamber. v

Intestimony whereof I aflix my si nature. HORACE W. IN G. 

